July 23, 2015

The floating action button (otherwise known as FAB) was all he hype when Google announced Android 5.0 Lollipop and introduced Material Design standards. Google wanted everyone to adopt it, but it seems not even they are that into it anymore. The latest update to the Google Keep Android app has completed gotten rid of the FAB.

This upgrade brings the Keep app up to version 3.1.294.00, and so far it seems this may be the only significant change in the interface. For those who may not know what we are talking about, the floating action button is that bubble you often see in the lower-right corner of some Google apps. It’s usually a shortcut for starting a message, reaching contacts and other handy tasks.

As it goes with these OTA updates, Google should be rolling out the improvements periodically. If you don’t see the update show up in the Google Play Store, just wait for it, it'll come eventually.

July 21, 2015

Google+ Photos, the photo sharing solution built into Google's social network Google+, is shutting down.

However: Google Photos (note the lack of +) — as in the excellent, unlimited free photo host that Google launched back in May — will live on.

The shutdown of Google+ Photos will start on August 1. According to Google, the Android version will go first; shortly thereafter, the web and iOS versions will go dark.

Google is offering a tool that'll transition Google+ Photos users over to Google Photos; you can find it on your Google+ account photos page. Even if you miss the deadline, Google says your photos will still be available by way of Google Takeout.

July 19, 2015

There is good news for Sony Xperia Z2 and Z3 users as they will soon receive the more recent Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) OS update.

As confirmed on the Xperia blog, Z2 and Z3 users can expect the Android 5.1.1 update by end July. The roll-out is expected to commence from Japan.

From there on, Xperia blog post hints, the newer Lollipop will roll-out to users of device around the world.

Previously the Xperia Z2 and Z3 were seeded Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop). The devices originally ran the outdated Android 4.4.2 (KitKat) OS out of the box.

Below are new features that will come along with the latest update:

New icons in Settings menu

More Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options within the notification menu

Newer animation effects

The 5.1.1 update will be available for Xperia Z2 and Z3 users via OTA notifications. Users can also initiate a manual search for the same by navigating to Settings > About Phone > System Updates > Check now.

July 14, 2015

The internet now has three billion users, most of whom use a mobile device to access it, a new study shows. The report shows mobile internet penetration will reach 71 per cent by 2019, with Android by far the most popular of the five major platforms at 84 per cent of smartphones and 74 per cent of tablets.

July 12, 2015

The news comes via Anandtech's AMD Radeon R9 Fury X review, which notes that "AMD has now thrown all of their weight beyond Vulkan and DirectX 12, telling developers that future games should use those APIs and not Mantle."

While Mantle drivers will still exist for those with GPUs, AMD told the site it has "ceased all further Mantle optimization". There has been no Mantle driver optimisation for the whole GCN 1.2 range of AMD GPUs, for example. You’ll still be able to play Mantle titles on these cards, but performance will vary – probably in a negative way.

It’s a shame Mantle didn’t work out; the API gave developers unusually direct access to GPU tech, but it was only implemented in a few games before sort of vanishing. On the bright side, AMD is now focusing on DirectX 12 and Vulkan, both of which are cross-platform APIS, meaning everyone can benefit from them.

July 6, 2015

Microsoft has announced about how it will be rolling out Windows 10 to customers.

According to the techcrunch.com, Microsoft said in a blog post that there are five million Windows Insiders, up from 3.7 million in May.

The company also said that it has collected millions of reservations for Windows 10 from the public.
Microsoft will give Windows 10 as a free upgrade to Windows 7 and Windows 8 and 8.1 users for a year.

If the user is a current Windows 10 tester, he or she will get the build first among the public.

Terry Myerson, Microsoft's Number Two, said that starting on July 29, they will start rolling out Windows 10 to their Windows Insiders. From there, they will start notifying reserved systems in waves, slowly scaling up after July 29. Each day of the roll-out they will learn and update the experience for all Windows 10 users.

Myerson also said that they will distribute a build of Windows 10 to retailers all over the world so that they can assist their customers with upgrades of newly purchased devices.

Volume license customers can snag Windows 10 on August 1.

In its post, Microsoft stressed that it is working to make sure that all systems can upgrade and that it won't move people to Windows 10 until it should work with their setup.

July 1, 2015

Gmail's web interface can now be customized even further, as Google has added hundreds of new themes for users to pick from, along with some new emoji as well. There will be tons of new images to select from as the background, some of them captured by Googlers themselves, and once you find the right one you can use Google's editing tools to make it look even better with your messages. The editing tools include blur, vignette, and text background, all of which allow you to make the image look better with your inbox.

In addition, Google has added an 'emoji for just about every occasion', so now you don't have to hunt down the right words to express how you feel. These updates are rolling out over the course of the next few days, so if you don't see the changes just yet be sure to check back in the next day or two.